Breed AppearanceThe female Entlebucher Sennenhund is a square;
the male is a longer, less square, sturdy, medium-sized dog. It has
small, triangular ears and rather small brown eyes. The head is well
proportioned to the body, with a strong flat skull. The long jaw is
well formed and powerful. The feet are compact, supporting its
muscular body. The smooth coat is close and smooth with symmetrical
markings of black, tan, and white. This tricolor coat has white on
its toes, tail-tip, and the chest and blaze where the fur is soft
and fluffy; the tan always lies between the black and the white. It
has muscular, broad hips. The hocks are naturally well angled. The
tail is sometimes docked, a practice which is now prohibited by law
in many countries, or it may have a natural bobtail.

HistoryThis small Swiss mountain dog is closely
related to the Appenzeller. He is named after the region where he
originated, Entlebuch in the canton of Lucerne. Bred to guard and
drive cattle, the Entelbucher was very popular in the past. The
breed almost disappeared, but then began a comeback in 1913.

BehaviorThis robust, agile, stable dog is an excellent
guard, both of cattle and its owner’s property. The friendly
Entelbucher makes also an excellent pet. The breed is used to
transport milk and cheese. Naturally good tempered, the Entelbucher
is easy to train.

HealthInbreeding due to the small foundation stock
numbers has led to Entlebuchers suffering from congenital defects,
the most common of which is hip dysplasia. Hemolytic anemia also is
known to occur. Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is also present in
the breed. The National Entlebucher Mountain Dog Association
(NEMDA), in collaboration with other organizations, is working to
eliminate these issues from the breed through responsible breeding,
genetic testing, and fact dissemination.